Once upon a time, long before the beginnings of the great human
civilisations, a comet travelling close through the our solar system
exploded as it passed close by this planet Earth. Fragments of this
space traveller showered the Earth, carrying exotic organisms and the
spores of strange flora.
As the Indians of Peru and Equador came to know the progeny of
this cataclysm, they hailed to the Gods for the provision of their holy
sacrement, trichoserus pachanoi, The San Pedro Cactus.
While the western empirical mind may scoff at this, there can be
no doubt that the association of the mighty San Pedro with the heavens
and space is appropriate and compelling.
FERTILITY RITES
Trichoserus Pachanoi is one of the faster growing cacti. A
columnar cactus with six to eight ribs, dark green, spines: small at
nodes, sometime none, large stands can grow to 18 feet!
Flowers are white, reddish brown outside, and very fragrant when
in bloom. Cacti with four ribs are very sacred and highly prized by
Indians familiar with this plant.
San Pedro grows best in the summer, when the radiant warmth of the
Sun awaken feelings of vigor in all life, and provide an abundance of
energy for rapid development.
During these months, San Pedro's roots are sent deep into the
soil, and at this time buds, or rootlets, may appear at the base of the
upper branches of the mature cacti. This is the ideal time to take
cuttings.
When taking cuttings, or harvesting, always leave the rooted
stump, preferably with several areoles, or spine-pads. It would be
silly to disturb or discard a well-rooted stump, which if allowed to
regenerate, will provide next year's crop.
For the best success with cuttings, start with a section at least
6 inches long, and make sure the cut is clean and smooth. Let the
section dry in a cool, dark place for one or two weeks until a corky
scab forms and dries thouroughly.
Place the cutting in moist sand to a depth of 3-4 inches. To
speed rooting, make several nicks along the bottom of the spine ridges,
and dip in a rooting compound such as Rootone or Superthrive.
Your cuttings like partial shade for siestas until they are well-
rooted.
RUMORS AND TALL TALES
San Pedro is the sacramental ally of the Peruvian and Equadorian
Indians. No other plant contains as much mescaline as Pedro, with the
exception of course of his relative, Peyote.
Average dose: select a three inch diameter by seven inch long
section. Discoloration does not affect potency. Finely chop outer
tissues, discarding fibrous outer core. Boil in twice it's volume of
water for 30 minutes, squeeze dry with a cheesecloth. Boil remaining
pulp in equal volume of water for 20 minutes. Extract juices, and
combine with first extract. Serve chilled, some suggest a tequila
chaser. Compost pulp!
Alternative method for preparation and storage is to slice 1/3
inch deep strips from Pedro's surface. For ritual effect, play
Peruvian flute music. Dry slices in the sun or oven at 125 to 200
degrees. Store in an airtight container. Average dry dose is 25
grams.
Reports have it that 75% of Pedro's active ingredient is
concentrated just under the skin. This layer apparantly is to protect
from hungry pests. Luckily, Pedro has very little of the alkaloids
such as those in peyote which make your stomach uncomfortable!
CACTI NEED LOVE TOO
Like most cacti and succulents, San Pedrp will flourish best in a
sandy, rich well-drained soil. You can prepare such a soil using a
1:1:1 mixture of topsoil, sand, and perlite.
Clay pots will allow the soil to breathe easily and help avoid one
of the main hazards: root rot. An inch or two of gravel or charcoal in
the pot bottom isn't a bad idea for drainage.
While not essential, a fertilizer applied in the spring will give
Pedro a maximal chance of growing up plump and potent.
Water as needed, but the soil MUST dry out between waterings.
During the winter, or cool weather, overwatering will tend to cause
root rot. Better to err on the dry side.
Mature, well-rooted San Pedro like the long full bright sun, while
rooting stock needs shade part of the day for naps.
CAUTION: Our friend hates gas, and will quickly show its
displeasure if grown in the kitchen or near any other gas appliances
like heaters.
OTHER READING:
Flesh of the Gods, Peter Furst.
Lloydias Journal
FOR WHOLESALE INFORMATION, FAN MAIL,
TECHNICAL ADVICE, and ROOTING STOCK:
Mr. Pedro
P.O. Box 4611
Berkely CA 94704
(Author's note: Any plants accompanying this manual are sold for
use as biological specimens only. In addition, be aware that it is
illegal to use hallucinagens, but legal to possess or sell San Pedro
Cactus as a specimen or for cultivation. Any alternative use of the
specimens is the responsability of the owner, and is not reccomended by
the author.)
(Typist's note: Clearly the above is the author's attempt to
cover his ass legally. But use of the recipies contained in this
document and ingestion of the product are condoned by the typist; I do
not have specimens for sale and am not liable to be procecuted for sale
of controlled substances. I am exercising my entirely legal right to
distribute information and express my opinion that the use of mescaline
is an enjoyable and beneficial experience. And I certainly admire the
nads of anyone who gives this information in a pamphlet to be given to
the purchaser of Trichoserus pachanoi with or without such a
disclaimer.)
& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845
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